Copper-coating furnace



0. A. KIRKMAN.

COPPER COMING FURNACE.

APPLICATION FILED .|AN.15|192. Y 1,41 3,@34., Patented Apr. 18, 1922.

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INVENTOR WITNESSES #y www 0. A. KIRKIVIAN.

COPPER COATING FURNACE.

APPLICATION FILED IAN. I5, 1920.

Patented Apr. 18, 1922.

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WITNESSES 0. A. KIRKIVIAN.

COPPER COMING FURNACE.

APPLICATION FILED IAN. I5, 1920. .,413,@34 Patented Apr. 18, 1922 4SHhES-SHEET 3. 1.2 FIE. l// g FI.5.7/70 /002 02 75 f g 76 a Mo- 75 ly;6% 73 74 74 WITNESSES 0. A. KIRKIVIAN.

COPPER comme FURNACE. APPLICATION FILED IAN. I5, 1920.

Patented Apr. 18, 1922.

INVENTOR UNITED STATES ORA A. KIRKMAN, 0F KNOXVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA.

COPPER-COATING F'URINACE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr.. 18, 1922.

. Application ledanuary 15, 1920. Serial No. 351,655.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, ORA A. K1RKMAN, .a iesident of Knoxville, inthecounty of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new anduseful Improvement in Copper-Coating Furnaces, of which the following isa specification.

This invention relates to furnaces, moulds, and methods used in thepractice of coppercoating iron and steel billets.

Among the objects of the invention arel the providing of specialfurnaces for heating steel billets to a high temperature with the leastpossible exposure to oxidizing gases during the heating; means forremovingsingle billets from such a furnace without exposing otherbillets therein to oxidation; means for removing the heated billets fromthe furnace directly to a casting mould; means for centering both endsof the billets in the casting mould and for accurately spacing andholding them in centered position during the casting process; andvarious improvements in the apparatus for carrying out the abovementioned and other objects whichA will more fully appear throughout thefollowing specification.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. lis an elevation and vpartial verticalsection of a furnace constructed for carrying out this invention, withmeans for vertically removing billets therefrom; Fig. 2 is an enlargedview ot' the same furnace, showing the methodof removing billets fromthe top thereof, and moulds .i p \sition to receive billets uponremoval; Fig. 3 is an enlarged section showing a modification, in thatapparatus is provided for-removing the billet from the under side of thefurnace; Fig. 4 shows one of the moulds with a billet centered thereinready for casting; Fig. 5 is a central vertical section showing adifferent form of mould with centering devices in position; Figs. 6 and7 are respectively plan and under side views of a removable centeringdevice adapted to cooperate with the mould in holding the billets inproper position; Fig. 8 is a horizontal section on the line 8 8 of Fig.3; Fig. 9 is a horizontal section on the line 9-9 of Fig. 3; Fig. 10shows the-hoisting means partially illustrated in F ig. 3; and Figs. 11and 12 are vertical cross sections of a modified furnace adapted toreceive and discharge its billets laterally.

In coating a steel or iron billet'with cop-'- per, a billetof suitablesize isfirst formed,

then treated chemically to remove the scale and oxides from its surface,then'it is lheated to a welding temperature in a muilie furnace filledwith a non-oxidizing gas, practically out of contact with air, toprevent reoxidization, and thereafter molten copper is` poured around itin a mould of suitable size to providea space surrounding the billet ofthe thickness desired for the copper coating thereon. After the metalhas solidified, and the copper has thus been welded directly to thebillet, it is removed from the mould and rolled down to any desired sizeand shape. The ferrous billets. are ordinarily' four to seven inches indiameter and several inches in length, and usually round. But the shapesand sizes vary.

In the past, it has been the practice to position the steel or iron-billets after their chemical treatment in graphite moulds, in which thebillets are then heated in an open furnace to a suitable temperature,the mould is then removed from the furnace, with the billet therein, andmolten copper poured into it to surround and cover the billet-. Suchgraphite moulds are expensive and fragile.

Their life is comparatively short, and the mere provision of thesemoulds has amounted to a very heavy item of cost in the production ofcopper-clad billets. It is partly to avoid the necessity of using suchspecial moulds and to permit the use of moulds of steel, cast iron, andsuch durable materials that the present invention has as an object,

although that is not the only benefit thatwill be apparent to thoseskilled in theart.

Referrin to Fig;v 1 theheating furnace for practicing this Ainvention ispreferably supported on a frame work comprising vertical beams 1, seatedupon a concrete floor 2 and carrying cross girders 3 upon which laremountedcast iron plates 4 and vertical frame member 5 which in turncarry horizontal frame members 6, all connected together in such form asto enclose the brick work or walls 7 of a furnaceB. Above the furnaceare cast iron plates 9.` This fur-v nace may be heated in any of thewell known ways. Extending throu' h it ,are one or more compartments ortu les 10. These are made of highly refractoryl material and 4are openattheir tops, or bottoms, or both. Their tops are normally closed by plugs1.1, having eye bolts 12 set therein to facilitate their removal by anysuitable form of hoist.

Thesefplugs have shoulders 13, adapted to seat upon the upper edge ofthe tubes 10,

to properly position the plug, and to sealthe tops thereof when theplugs are in position. The tubes are built through the top and bottom ofthe furnace so that there is no leakage therearound. Inside the furnacethey are exposed on all sides to the heated gas therein.

Asbestos membersv 14 are positioned immediately below the bottom of therefractory tubes. Through these members are openings 15 adapted topermit free passage of vertlcal lifting plungers 16. The asbestoswashers 14 are supported by castings 17, attached to the plates 4. Thesecastings have passages to permit free travel of plunger rods 16therethrough. Carried on the upper end of the plungers are cast ironheads 18 which in turn carry refractory blocks 19, adapted to supportbillets 2() while they are being heated in the exposed portions of therefractory tubes 10. It will be observed that the tops of the refractoryblocks 19 are cut away to form a supporting neck 21, slightly smallerthan the base of the billet seated thereon.

Beneath the furnace are tracks 22 upon which are mounted a truck 23carrying rigid upright beams 24 near the tops of which are pulley wheels25. A shaft 26 extends across the truck and carries at each end a'windlass 27 adapted to wind upon itself a cable 28 which passes over thepulley and has its other end vattached to the bottom of a lifting member29 adapted to move vertically upward between the supports 24 as itsguide. The shaft 26 carries a gear wheel 30 which is connected by asuitable worm to the shaft 31 of an electric motor 32, mounted on thecarriage 23 and having a suitable control 33. A connection is alsoprovided whereby the wheels 34 of the truck may be driven from this, oranother motor, governed by a control 35, whereby the truck may be drivenalong the tracks 22. ,f This lifting device is adapted to raise theplungers 16.

Referring to Fig. 2, moulds 36 are shown in position above therefractory tubes. These are placed to receive the heated billets uponvertical upward removal from the furnace. These moulds are made of castiron, steel, or other suitable material, and may be either integral orsplit, as may be preferred.

This form of mould has one end, as shown in Fig. 2, entirely open, andits other end has a restricted opening 37 formed by an inclined shoulder38, partially closing the opening through the mould just at the bottomthereof. The interior of the shoulder' 38 forms a tapered seat 39.Projections 40 are provided on the outsides of the moulds to facilitatetheir handling. At the mouths of the moulds, that is the lower portionsas shown on Fig. 2, trip dogs 41 yare provided. These are pivotallymounted in projections 42 on the sides of the moulds and have a weightedupper portion, and hooked ends 43 extending through openings 44 in thesides of the moulds. The under sides of the inner ends of the hooks 43are beveled, as shown. The weighted portion of these hooks above theirmounting will always tend to keep the hooks in closed position, as shownin Fig. 2, but they may be readily moved apart as described later.

Referring to Fig. 3, a somewhat different construction from that alreadydescribed is shown, in that the refractory tubes are so made thatbillets may be withdrawn therefrom by removal from the bottom of thetube instead of or as Well as from the top. In this construction acasting 46 is mounted just beneath the ybottom of the refractory tube10a. Two slide gates 47 and 48 are mounted in this casting. These gateswhen in their closed position, as shown in Fig. 8 restrict the passagethrough the casting 46 to a small central opening 49 large enough topermit passage therethrough of the plunger' 16, the refractory billetsupport 19, Just beneath these gates is another slide gate 50, adaptedto entirely close the opening through the casting. The lower end of thecasting is formed into a flared bell-shaped depending skirt 5l. Thisskirt or bell is adapted to center and hold the top of a mould 36, usedto receive a billet drawn from the under side of the furnace. This moulddiffers from the mould 36 in that it does not have the inclined shoulder38 partially closing onev end, though by slight changes in the apparatusshown that could be used here also.

In Fig. 10 is shown the mould and billet lifting and lowering apparatusfor the furnace of Fig. 3. This comprises `a cylinder 53, which may bemounted on the truck 23, or any other suitable movable support. Fluidpressure is supplied this cylinder by pipe 54 from any desired source,and is controlled to raise and lower the piston 55, upon which ismounted a supplementary cylinder 56, also connected to the source ofiuid pressure by pipe 57, whereby to operate piston 58, on which ismounted the billet handling rod 16a. In removing a billet, a mould isplaced on the support 59, the carriage 23 moved until the liftingapparatus is centered under the skirt 51, pressure is admitted tocylinder 53 to raise the piston 55 until the mould is held firmly inposition as shown in Fig. Then gate 50 is withdrawn, pressure isadmitted to cylinder 56 until the rod 162L supports the block 19a andthe billet thereon. Then gates 47 and 48 are withdrawn, pressure isreleased to lower piston In that position they form a seat for 58, untilthe billet is supported in mould 136 side.

clined restricted outlet at one end, after having received a billet itis reversed .and seated upon a supporting stool 60 (Fig. 5) which has aninclined receiving face 61 upon which the tapered end 62 of the mould36a seats. The billet slides down into this conical receiving member andcenters itself therein asshown in Fig. 5. The edges of the soft billetform a seal about its lower end, in th1s case, as also in that of theinclined mould 36.

In connection with all the forms of mouldsV used a gravity centeringdevice 70 is provided. This member is formed with .a central openchamber 71, having a bottom 72, through which are holes 73. 'On theunderside of the bottom 72 are beveled projections 74, lying next to theouter wall of the member, and having their beveled faces on the 1n- Theupper part ber forms a shoulder 75, which is adapted to seat upon theedge of the moulds while the main body portion 76 of this centeringmember is adapted to iit accurately but easily in the interior of themould. The length of thecylindrical portion 76 is such that the beveledlugs 74 will lnormally engage and centerthe upper end of a billet beforethe shoulder 7 5 seats upon the top of the mould.

The operation of the apparatus above described is as follows: l

Referring to the forms shown in Figs. 1 and 2 commencing the descriptionwith the beginning of the process, plungers 16 are raised to theposition shown at the left of Fig. 2, the moulds 36 not being inposition,

` billets 20 are positioned on the refractory blocks 19, and theplungers are then lowered to the position shown at the right of Fig. 2,the sealing plugs 11 are put into position to close the tops of the`tubes as shown in Fig. 1. After thebillets have been heated to vtheproper temperature by heat which passes from the furnace through thewalls of the refractory tubes 10, thevplugs 11 are removed, moulds 36placed lin lposition as .shownin Fig. '2 and the plungers raised Aasshown in-the left of the figure, thus carrying the heated billet upwardout of the furnace and into the mould, as shown at the leftof Fig 2. Atemporary seal as of paper is preferably used over opening 37, andthemould is filled .with non-oxidizing gas beforebeing put intobillet-receiving position. The upper end of the billet will pass betweenthe dogs 41 on account of their beveled ends, but as soon as the bottomof it has -passed above the dogs they will prevent its return, as shownat the left' of the centering memof Fig. 2. Thereupon the mould with itsbillet therein is removed, quickly reversed, and centering member isdropped into the open` top of the mould. When the mould is reversed thebottom of the billet will assume a central" position -on the inclinedshoulder 39, and the edges of the hot billet will tend to flattenslightly and thus seal the opening 37. The member 70 is preferably aheavy casting and when dropped into the top of the mould the beveledlugs 74 passing on three sides of the top of the circular billet willcenter that end of it, and hold it uniformly `spaced from the 'sides ofthe mould. Thus the billet is accurately centered andspaced at both itstop and bottom. Then molten copper is poured into the hollow receptacle71 formed bythe member 70 and passing through the openings 7 3 lls thespace between the billet and the mould walls.

As soon as the copper has solidified the billet is stripped out of themould and may be immediately passed to the rolling mill. Referring toFig. 3 where the billet is removed from the bottom of the furnace, theplug 11 is kept in position or the top of the, tube may be permanentlyclosed. A billet is positioned upon the refractory block 19a supportedby rod 16a below the furnace. The gates 47, 48 and 50 are pulled out andthe billet is raised to position in the fur- Inace as shown in Fig. 3,by means of by the circular support 80 as shown in Fig,

3. Then gate 50 is withdrawn, plunger 16a is raised through the opening49 until it supports the refractory block 19a and the billet. Then thegates 47 and 48 are withdrawn permitting the billet to be lowered untilthe bottom thereof rests upon supporting dogs 41a. Then the mould isremoved and turned upside down upon the centering and supporting stoolmember 60 (Fig. 5), the billet rests on the inclined bottom 61 of thismember, and is accu rately positioned and held centrally spaced therein,while the top of the billet is af:- curately spaced and held in positionby the member 70, as already described. Or, the centering stool 60 maybe positioned on and fastened to the end of the mould before it isinverted. This is preferable, as it prevents entry of air to the mouldwhile it is being moved and inverted. Molten copper is poured in asbefore stated and after this solidifies the billet is ready for removaland rolling.

In Fig. 11 is shown a modified form of furnace in that the refractorycompartments or tubes 10b adapted to hold the billet in the furnace arehorizontal. The tubes are supported on their under side by a series ofwalls 90 raised from the bottom of the furnace. Their ends arecompletely open, and in order to prevent the billet from coming intocontact with the'air, or other oxidizing gases, during its heating andreinoval the ends of the tubes are enclosed in shells 91, mounted on theside walls of the furnace. Openings 92 in these shells are controlled byslides 93. Refractory doors 94, mounted on swinging arms 95 are providedinside tlie shells for closing the ends of the tube 10b, after thebillet is placed in position therein, during the heating process.Normally the chambers 96 and 97, formed by the two shells 23, are filledwith lnon-oxidizing gases, such as flue-gas, so

that when a heated billet is removed from the furnace it will not comein contact with oxidizing gases in thesechambers.

A billet is inserted into this form of furnace, as for example byopening slide 93 and door 94 as shown at the left of Fig. 12, andsliding the billet through chamber 96 and into the tube or compartment10b by means of a plunger rod 98, which may be either mechanically o'rmanually operated.

After the billet has been sufficiently heated, a mould 36b is insertedin the chamber 97, with its open end registering with the end of thetube 10b and the billet is pushed out from the furnace into the mould.The mould 361 is then pulled out and turned with its restricted enddown, as shown in Fig. 4. The centering device is dropped into positionand the casting operation is performed as already described.

1t will be understood that external means such as a crank arm isprovided for operand diameter, this invention is not limitedv to anyparticular form, and the so-called tubes or heating compartments may bevaried as to size and shape to accommodate special billets. Likewise,although the moulds illustrated are cylindrical it is to be understoodthat they may be of other shape in cross section corresponding to theshape of the billet used. Likewise the inclined seat of the stool member60, and the inclined shoulder 38 of the mould are not necessarilyconical, but maybe formed with fiat inclined faces corresponding to theIsides of a square, or other shaped billet and mould. The terms, tapered,conical, inclined, etc. in this specification and'in. the claims are tobe so interpreted. 1t will also be understood that Where a squarebillet, for example, is used the centering member 70 would likewise besquare and instead of having three beveled lugs to engage the top of thebillet, would have four lugs, adapted to engage the middle portion ofeach side of the billet, and likewise for other polygonal shapes.

The compartments 100 and 100i of Figs. 1, 2 and 3 are kept filled withsome non-oxidizing gases, such as flue-gas, and openings 102 areprovided through the tubes, in order to permit this non-oxidizing gas toconstantly pass into-the interior of the heating tubes, and so toprevent contact of the billet being heated with air, or other oxidizinggases. It is preferable to fill the moulds before placing them inposition with a similar non-oxidizing gas, so that the billet is exposedto the least'possible air before the molten copper is cast therearound.F or this purpose temporary seals, as of paper, may be placed over theends of the moulds after they have been filled with gas and before theyhave been placed in position, such seals being destroyed by passagestherethrough of the lifting plungers, or the billet itself, as will beobvious.

Although this description is directed particularly to copper coating ofiron and steel billets, the apparatus and methods may be applied toother metals, Where similar treatment is required.

I claim:

1. The combination with a furnace comprising a main furnace chamber anda vertical refractory tube therethrough adapted to contain a billetbeing heated, of a mould adapted to seat upon the end of the refracvtory tube. and to receive a billet removed vertically therefrom, andpower driven means supporting said biillet adapted to move the billetdirectly from the refractory tube into the mould.

2. A mould for receiving billets from a furnace, said mould comprising abody portion of uniform cross-section having an inclined interiorshoulder at one end adapted to support and center the end of a billetrestinof thereon.

3. centering device for holding billets in a mould in a positionuniformly spaced from'the'walls of said mould comprising a shell adaptedto fit into the mouth of the mould, andbeveled lugs on the bottom of theshell adapted to engage the edges lof the top of the billet. e y

4. A centering device for holding billets in a mould in a positionuniformly spaced from the walls of said mould comprising a shell adaptedto fit into the mouth .of the mould, an outer shoulder on the shelladapted to contact with the end of the mould and prevent' further travelof the shell thereon, and beveled lugs on the bottom of: the shelladapted toengage the edges of the top of the billet.

5. A centering device for positioningand holding the upper ends ofbillets in a mould, said device comprising a hollow member adapted tofit into the mouth of the mould,.

the lower end of the member carrying bev- @led lugs adapted to engagethe edges of the top of a billet carried in the mould.

6. Thecombination of a mould open at one end and restricted at the otherend by an inclined shoulder adapted to form the `ryng ed to-engage theedges of the top of the billet.

7. The combination of a mould open at one end and restricted at theother end, by

an inclined shoulder adapted to form the e support of a billet held inthe mould, and a centering device comprising a shell adapted to it inthe open end of the'mould, and carrying on its' lower ends beveled lugsadapted to engage the edges of the top of the billet and an openingthrough the shell to permit passage of molten metal into the mould.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

onA A. KIRKMAN.

Witnesses HOWARD L. SNIVELY, Amon, A. TRILL.

